newcastle united 1-1

Independent:

Hughton hails 'fearless' Carroll for adding to Chelsea turmoil
Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1

By Thomas Keppell at St James' Park

The mercury plunged below zero at an arctic St James' Park but the heat remains on Carlo Ancelotti and his out-of-sort champions. Given the mitigation of a makeshift defence, some doughty opponents and a start of nightmarish proportions, a case could be made for this being an encouraging point in hostile, freezing conditions.
Credit where credit is due, they dredged up spirit and resolve to recover from Andy Carroll's gift-wrapped sixth-minute opener, and were the team firmly in the ascendancy for much of the second half.
But however you spin this engaging, fiery draw, something about Chelsea just isn't right at the moment. Be it the loss of John Terry's buccaneering spirit or Frank Lampard's midfield sophistication, the momentum that catapulted them to the title last year appears to have vanished.
Knocked off their Premier League perch for the first time since 3 April, this was their chance to respond and banish some of the bad vibrations that have been emanating from West London this past month.
That they couldn't respond in time-honoured fashion raises fresh questions about Ancelotti's future.
To make matters worse, a post-match blizzard saw them scrambling for a bus after their flight back to London was cancelled. Grounded in every sense of the word.
Newcastle certainly deserved this point. Shorn of five first-team regulars and fielding a centre-half partnership made up of two players making their first Premier League appearances of the season, they were lively, spirited and inventive. Coming off their own nadir – a 5-1 defeat at Bolton – they looked keen to atone from the start.
Sensing a weakness in their opponents they pressed Chelsea high up the pitch, carving out a succession chances for their burgeoning England number nine, who lived up to the hype by causing continual problems for a lop-sided visiting defence throughout.
But their high-octane first half took its toll, and the Chelsea of old would have exploited weary Newcastle limbs. This being Roman Abramovich's Chelsea, a run of five Premier League games without a win leaves Ancelotti exposed to a Siberian blast much more serious that anything the North East's latest cold snap could hurl at him.
Waking to reports that Pep Guardiola was top of Abramovich's wish-list to replace him — speculation dismissed as "total nonsense" by Chelsea — Ancelotti needed a start bristling with conviction and menace. What he got was a team that all too easily prodded the self-destruct button.
As early as the second minute Newcastle could have drawn first blood — Steven Taylor directing a Wayne Routledge cross goalbound only for Petr Cech to parry the ball wide.
A warning, but one that Chelsea hadn't heeded. Bursting forward from midfield, Newcastle seemed to have lost momentum when Jon Obi Mikel checked the run of United's midfielder Cheik Tiote.
But Alex, clearly struggling with a knee injury, inexplicably rolled the ball past his goalkeeper and into the grateful path of Carroll, who swept home.
Chelsea's response came from the familiar boot of Didier Drogba, who hammered a close range shot against the side netting, and Nicolas Anelka, who saw his looping header hacked off the line.
Newcastle, though, stood firm until the stroke of half-time when Soloman Kalou twisted past Sol Campbell before firing a deflected shot past Tim Krul.
Cue the deluge? Sort of. Chelsea bossed the second-half possession but a couple of Drogba shots aside, failed to turn the screw on tiring opponents.
Even Kalou, their best performer here, miscued when presented with an open goal after wriggling past the otherwise indomitable Campbell in the 80th minute.
In fact, had it not been for Ashley Cole things could have been much, much worse. After a melee in the Chelsea box the ball was squeezed to Routledge, and his whipped, curling 25-yard shot was heading into the top right-hand corner of the goal until Cole headed clear.
By then they had run out of gas, and Newcastle's point had been proven.
Well clear of the relegation scrap and looking to have more than enough to stay up, it is a wonder why Chris Hughton has not been rewarded with a long-term contract. But, to his credit, he continues to let his team do the talking for him.
"It was a good point and it was the response I wanted — it was the only type of response we could have," Newcastle's manager said. "It wasn't like us to concede the goals we conceded against Bolton and I think we showed what we were made of out there."
Carroll, once again, was at the forefront of everything they did. Aside from his goal he delivered a performance that bristled with menacing intent, and when pressed into defensive duties at the end didn't let anyone down.
"That is Andy. He's not someone who is fearful of any opposition or individuals," Hughton said. "That's how he is at the moment.
"When you're in a confident mood and you're scoring goals that's how it should be. You should look forward to every game and you should think every game is an opportunity to score."
If only the same could be said about any of Chelsea's battle-weary troops.

Substitutes: Newcastle Ranger (Ameobi, 77) Unused Soderberg (gk), Perch, Kadar, Smith, Lovenkrands, Best. Chelsea Sturridge (Mikel, 80) Unused Turnbull (gk), Ferreira, Van Aanholt, Bruma, McEachran, Kakuta. Booked: Newcastle Guthrie, Tiote. Chelsea Ramires.
Possession Newcastle 43% Chelsea 57%. Shots on target Newcastle 3 Chelsea 13. Man of the match Carroll. Match rating 7/10. Ref A Marriner (West Midlands) Att 46,469


======================================

Guardian:

Salomon Kalou and Andy Carroll score in Chelsea draw at Newcastle

Newcastle United 1 Carroll 6 Chelsea 1 Kalou 45
Kevin McCarra at St James' Park

It was a wintry trip to St James' Park for Chelsea and they then found problems in getting a flight home. Even so, the journey to come could be harder still.
Chelsea reached the top of the Premier League on 3 April and had remained there throughout each set of matches until now. There is no longer a view from the pinnacle, just the sight of Manchester United above them. While it is not so long since the team was engaged in one long spree, goals are currently rare.
The manager, Carlo Ancelotti, found a little comfort in watching his men score once here. That equaliser against Newcastle United in the 45th minute came about when Salomon Kalou took a pass from Florent Malouda and found the net with a shot that deflected off Danny Simpson.
Ten minutes from the close, the Ivorian hit the side-netting from an angle despite the fact that he was free of the defenders and goalkeeper Tim Krul. The Ivorian ought, indeed, to have put Chelsea ahead and the failure to do so was symptomatic of the frustration that besets the line-up.
Even so, this outcome was an improvement of sorts in the League. At least the side had a reply after being unable to come up with a goal in losses to Sunderland and Birmingham City. The latter case has turned out to be misleading because it had looked at St Andrew's, where the display was largely convincing, as if all that they lacked was a break.
There can be no such interpretation now. Ancelotti took solace from the knowledge that John Terry and Frank Lampard are about to return to training. The manager was still careful not to assume that the completion of their recovery will take place without a hitch.
It must be galling for the manager to know, too, that it is Lampard who needs more time to be his old self since the loss of his goals from midfield has robbed Chelsea of potency. The manager, like Newcastle, used a 4-4-2 formation, but did not get the impact from Malouda, an outright winger, that he sought.
The only venue Chelsea could approach happily is, for the time being, Stamford Bridge. The team arrived at St James' Park as a side that had lost its way in the League. Alex's personal sense of direction was also out of order in the sixth minute when he knocked a pass back wide of his goalkeeper, Petr Cech. Andy Carroll was commendably alert to the situation and pursued the ball to send Newcastle into the lead and record his ninth League goal of the campaign.
The advantage was heartening for a side missing defenders through injury or suspension and Chelsea's initial response was humdrum. Even a 36-year-old Sol Campbell, getting his first start in the League for Newcastle, would not have felt taxed while the visitors fumbled to find even a little fluency. There was momentum later. Chelsea made more of an impression as the first-half developed.
They summoned the will to pin down Newcastle as the match entered its last phase. Even so, Chris Hughton should be happy with this showing. His men had previously conceded nine goals in the League at home, but were markedly more secure in this match irrespective of the injuries that affected the back four.
This, it has to be borne in mind, is a club in its first season back in the top flight after relegation. Given the context, progress has been good. No thought has been given to adopting a precautionary approach.
Their tally of 16 League goals at St James' Park is, for instance, only one fewer than Arsenal's at the Emirates.. In the interest of fairness, it has to be agreed that Arsène Wenger's side has had one fewer League match at home. Newcastle outlook is that of a club seeking an impact rather than rummaging for the odd point here and there that would keep them dully alive in the top flight.
The accent had never been put intentionally on defence against the reigning champions even if the centre-half Steven Taylor was fit to play for the first time since January. Newcastle's dynamism was still being shown in a lively opening to the second-half, even if they were happy enough to restrict the visitors to a draw. It had not been a distinguished game. Fatigue could eventually be detected in both line-ups and the conditions were opposed to slick play. Chelsea, however, will not dwell on that.
Ancelotti has had a weekend in which there was speculation about his future. Considering the managerial turnover under Roman Abramovich, it would be sensible of him not to think that such talk is absurd just because the club is the reigning Premier League and FA Cup holders.
The spate of goals that has been reduced to a trickle is, to an extent, a faithful reflection of the reduction that has turned the team's flow of majestic form into a trickling stream that hardly bears Chelsea forward.


=========================================

Mail:

Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1: Salomon Kalou saves blue blushes but champions still can't find a win

Salomon Kalou spared Chelsea's blushes as the champions had to come from behind to claim a point at Newcastle.The Ivory Coast international fired home the equaliser in first-half injury time to prevent his side slipping to a third successive league defeat for the first time in 11 years.Andy Carroll had given the Magpies a sixth-minute lead when he capitalised on an error by Alex, and although the Londoners enjoyed the better of the game, they defended resolutely enough to deserve their point in front of a crowd of 46,469.

Newcastle full-back Jose Enrique, who also played his part in a superb defensive effort, paid tribute to Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor, who played in the absence of Mike Williamson and Fabricio Coloccini.Chelsea boost as Carlo Ancelotti reveals John Terry and Frank Lampard could be available next week'The two centre-backs played their first game and they played really well,' the Spaniard said.'Chelsea are a really good team, we played really well in defence. I think we deserved a draw today and we are really happy with that. We had to drop back, it's normal against this team. If not, we lose maybe 6-1.'Chelsea climbed into second place as a result, but have now taken just four points from their last five games.Chris Hughton will have been the happier manager after seeing his reshuffled defence keep the visitors at bay.Last Saturday's 5-1 defeat at Bolton had proved a sobering experience for the Magpies, whose promising start to the season has been dented by a return of just a single point from the last nine on offer.

In the circumstances, the prospect of champions Chelsea arriving on Tyneside desperate to avoid another damaging defeat was hardly an appetising one.Add to that the absence of key trio Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson and Joey Barton through suspension, and the omens were not good.But with Campbell making his first league start for the club and Taylor playing a competitive game for the first time since January, Hughton's men got off to the perfect start, albeit with a helping hand from Alex.The Brazilian, whose visit to a wintry Tyneside may have come as something of a culture shock, and keeper Petr Cech, who had already clawed away a second-minute Taylor header, were on entirely different wavelengths as they closed on a seemingly harmless through-ball.But with Carroll hot on his heels, the defender stabbed it past Cech to allow the England striker to tap the ball into an empty net.The Magpies could hardly believe their luck, but as they snapped into tackles with midfielder Cheik Tiote in the thick of it following his return from suspension, they made life distinctly uncomfortable for the visitors.

However, Chelsea warmed to their task as the half wore on to dominate possession, and although the home defence were proving stubborn, they gradually started to get on top.Skipper Didier Drogba forced a fine reaction save from Tim Krul at the near post with a blistering 19th-minute drive, and full-back Enrique had to clear an Alex header off the line seven minutes later.As the Blues threw men forward, the Magpies threatened on the break with wide men Jonas Gutierrez and Wayne Routledge, in for injured captain Kevin Nolan, prospering sporadically, although the bulk of the traffic was in the opposite direction.Carlo Ancelotti's men flexed their muscles as the half-time whistle approached, and were convinced they should have had a 43rd-minute penalty for Tiote's clumsy challenge on Ashley Cole as he burst into the area.They got their reward in injury time when Kalou carved his way into the penalty area and fired into the bottom corner with the help of a deflection of Taylor's out-stretched leg.Chelsea returned in determined mood and might have increased their lead with 56 minutes gone when Drogba expertly controlled a long ball and fired in a firm left-foot shot on the turn which Tim Krul got down well to save.

But it was the home side who went close six minutes later when Cech failed to deal with a towering cross and only succeeded in serving the ball up to Wayne Routledge on the edge of the box.The winger controlled neatly before blasting a volley towards goal, where Cole was perfectly positioned to head off the line.Chelsea threw everything they had at their hosts as time ran down and Drogba had a 77th-minute strike chalked off for handball, but Kalou could have won it three minutes later when Taylor, Campbell and Krul between them allowed the ball to fall to him beyond the far post, but he fired into the side-netting.Substitute Daniel Sturridge shot wastefully across the face of goal with four minutes remaining as the champions launched a late onslaught, but Newcastle were not about to surrender a hard-earned point.Of his return, Campbell said: 'We had to work hard and use the ball well. They're a great side, they came back to 1-1, but you can't beat it.'It's always nice to come back at home, whenever it comes you've got to take it and get on with it. I've been training hard, working hard, and it's great to be out there.'


=====================================

Sun:

Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1
By MARTIN BLACKBURN

CARLO ANCELOTTI will not be sorry to see the back of a nightmare November.
But if he looked ahead to December as he left freezing Tyneside yesterday, it would have sent a shiver down the Italian's spine.
Champions Chelsea have taken a disappointing four points from the last 15 available to relinquish top spot in the league.
In addition, Ancelotti lost trusted and popular right-hand man Ray Wilkins, while sporting director Frank Arnesen is also packing his bags in the summer.
And the Italian awoke on Sunday morning to widespread reports he could soon lose his job to highly-rated Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.
But if the former Milan boss thinks things might get easier, he needs only look at the fixture list over the festive season.
Back-to-back fixtures with Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal are looming during what promises to be a season-defining month.
How badly they need their talismen John Terry and Frank Lampard back from injury going into those games.
At least Chelsea managed to stop the rot here after their shock defeats at the hands of Sunderland and Birmingham.
But this point will be cold comfort for Ancelotti as he sees old foes Manchester United two points clear at the top of the table.
The Toon should have been there for the taking after their own mid-season slump and with four first-team regulars missing.
They shipped five at Bolton last week and had two centre-backs in Sol Campbell and Steven Taylor who have played precious little football this season.
However, the Blues made their task all the more difficult by gifting the home team an early goal - and in the end they could not pull it round.
And it could have been even worse but for an amazing goal-line clearance in the second half by Ashley Cole - the least popular man on Tyneside.
Newcastle could have been ahead inside the first couple of minutes as the returning Taylor flicked a header goalwards.
Petr Cech made a sprawling save but could only palm the ball into the path of Shola Ameobi who disappointingly shot into the side- netting.
But the Toon Army did not have long to wait for their opener and it came in slightly comical circumstances.
Alex - playing his last match before a knee operation - did not look as he slipped a back-pass in the direction of Cech.
It went beyond the Czech keeper who was comfortably outpaced by Andy Carroll and the Toon striker had the easiest of his nine goals this season.
Chelsea have been keeping a close eye on the England new-boy but almost anyone in the stadium could have put that one in.
Going behind so early at a sub-zero St James' Park was the last thing the champions and their beleaguered boss needed.
Having lost their sporting director and top spot, it was shaping up to be another disastrous weekend for the Blues.
But at least the players showed they were prepared to roll up their sleeves and rallied for the remainder of the first half.
Didier Drogba was twice denied by keeper Tim Krul as Ancelotti's men pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Cole was being mercilessly taunted by the home crowd over his treatment of ex-wife and Geordie lass Cheryl Cole.
And they could have had another reason to dislike him when he went down under a challenge from Chiek Tiote in the box - but referee Andre Marriner was not impressed.
Chelsea had not been at their best but they got the equaliser they deserved right on half-time.
Florent Malouda created the opening with a delightful flick allowing Salomon Kalou a sight of goal. The Ivorian's shot would possibly have been saved by Krul but took a nick off Jose Enrique and found its way into the corner.
Early in the second half the Toon could have restored their lead as Wayne Routledge's cross was met by Carroll - but the forward's header lacked power.
A centre from the left by Enrique was only palmed into the path of Routledge by Cech and the former Fulham man did well to get his shot away.
It looked a goal for all the world but Cole got back to brilliantly head off the line - much to the home crowd's annoyance.
Defender Branislav Ivanovic went close to winning it for Chelsea with a header that was well saved by Krul.
But the biggest chance fell to Kalou. He chested down a cross by Nicolas Anelka and bundled his way through two defenders to find himself looking at an empty net.
But, from three yards out with a narrow angle, he could only scoop his shot into the side-netting leaving Ancelotti shaking his head in disbelief.
Sub Daniel Sturridge also wasted a chance as his shot dribbled wide after more good approach play by Drogba.
Home fans, who have seen their team slump after famous wins over Arsenal and Sunderland, were starting to fear the worst.
The final whistle was greeted with a big sigh of relief by the Toon Army - but more frustration for the champions.

========================================

Telegraph:

Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1
By Henry Winter, Chief Football Correspondent at St James's Park

Chelsea remain trapped in a cold snap. Locked in winter’s icy embrace, the champions have struggled to four points out of 15 and cannot wait for the warming return of John Terry’s leadership, Frank Lampard’s goals, Michael Essien’s drive and for their attackers to take their chances.
Chelsea’s flight south was even snowed off, forcing Carlo Ancelotti and his squad to return home on the bus. It summed up their present travails.
Jokes about a coach replacement service inevitably circulated, although Ancelotti’s sanguine demeanour afterwards did not indicate a crushed man sloping towards the exit.
A Chelsea spokesman dismissed as “total nonsense” claims that the club have spoken to Pep Guardiola, who is in negotiations with Barcelona about a new deal.
Chelsea are, however, believed to have talked to Txiki Begiristain about following Frank Arnesen as sporting director.
Despite the off-field tensions inhibiting Chelsea in the wake of Ray Wilkins’s damaging sacking, they patently need the reassuring presence of Terry, Lampard and Essien to restore belief.
Essien should be back to face Everton next weekend, Terry is a possible but Lampard is deemed unlikely. Nerves are Chelsea’s new match day companions, a surprise given the experience of so many of their players and the usually positive nature of their manager.
Yet they have lost the swagger of champions, the aura of invincibility, as well as top spot in the Premier League. They are focusing more on combating opponents’ strengths than building a platform for their own.
Ancelotti was so concerned about Andy Carroll’s threat in the air that he changed formation, switching to 4-4-2 to give Chelsea bodies out wide to restrict the service towards Carroll.
The sight of the pony-tailed Geordie rising for the ball, timing his leap to tower above centre-halves such as Alex and Branislav Ivanovic, has become one of the signature images of the Premier League. Not that any balls needed to travel too high to come down with snow on.
Following admirable work by the St James’ Park groundsman and 200 willing spade-wielders, the ground was cleared of the white stuff.
Newcastle United are certainly made of the right stuff under Chris Hughton, whose name was chanted by the fans. Good displays could be found throughout his team.
Jose Enrique was the man of an admittedly average match, the model of defensive nous at left-back. With Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson suspended, Hughton had pressed Steven Taylor and Sol Campbell into service.
Taylor had not played for 10 months while Campbell had managed only 67 minutes in the league this season before this. Both did well, although inevitably tiring. No matter.
If Carroll had been an outstanding centre-forward in the first half, he looked a useful centre-half when dropping back late on.
It could have been worse for Chelsea. Carroll terrorised Alex and Ivanovic in the opening stages, exploiting the hesitancy currently coursing through Ancelotti’s side with an early goal.
The errors began in central midfield, John Obi Mikel giving away the ball under pressure from Shola Ameobi and Wayne Routledge. Mikel did regain possession, working it back towards goal, but then Alex intervened, accelerating its journey.
Petr Cech was racing out and the ball, almost comically, bypassed him. As Chelsea’s keeper turned and attempted to give chase, the quick-thinking Carroll nipped in and slid the ball home.
Chelsea were stunned, struggling to deal with the commitment levels of Hughton’s players. Out wide, Routledge kept running at Ashley Cole, while Jonas Gutiérrez looked to get in behind Jose Bosingwa.
Some of their crosses caused real trouble, one hoisted delivery from Routledge bringing a header from Ameobi just over. Alex and Ivanovic soon began jumping together to deal with Carroll.
In the centre, Danny Guthrie and Cheik Tiote buzzed about, swamping Ramires, who again looked blown away by the speed and physicality of the Premier League.
Enjoying Ancelotti’s total support, the Brazilian did recover to vindicate his coach’s faith to an extent in a slightly improved second half.
Chelsea gradually overcame their grogginess, building slowly but surely, if not with the brio that defined their autumn movements.
Three minutes from the break, Florent Malouda sent Cole flying into the box, where he was clearly balked by Tiote. The hardy Chelsea faithful up in the icy gods joined the ants in blue below in screaming for a penalty. Andre Marriner waved play on.
Channelling their anger constructively, Chelsea stormed upfield again, Ivanovic carrying the ball over the halfway line. Salomon Kalou became involved, soon working the ball to Malouda and receiving the return on entering the box.
Checking on to his right, Kalou let fly with a low shot that clipped Danny Simpson, taking it past Tim Krul’s dive and in.
Newcastle hit on the counter in the second half, Carroll and the lively sub Nile Ranger going close, but the force lay mainly with Chelsea. With 10 minutes remaining, and Newcastle resisting stoutly, Ancelotti withdrew Mikel, sent on Daniel Sturridge, pulled Malouda back alongside Ramires and went 4-2-4.
Nicolas Anelka worked the left, Kalou the right while Sturridge began insinuating his way into the box, even snaking a left-foot shot wide.
By the end, Alex was hobbling around in midfield and Thursday’s knee surgery in Brazil cannot come soon enough. Chelsea themselves have not gone lame, but the champions need fresh legs


=========================================